“When did you sell this?” I asked in disbelief. “That’s great and not-so-great at the same time!”
The tires crunched on the hard ground as we inched our way to the top. The building began to come into sight again. It appeared to be a house. It sat low to the ground, a ranch style, of sorts. I could see a lot of glass and a tile roof.
We pulled to the top, Cane saying nothing as he put the car in park. He turned to look at me but my eyes were fixed on the white picket fence lining the back of the house.
“Cane?” I asked nervously, anxiety building. My eyes scanned the rest of the scene in front of me. The house wasn’t complete. I could tell from the materials lying around, but it was coming along.
I opened my car door—not even looking at Cane although I felt his eyes on me—and got out, taking everything in.
It was absolutely perfect.
I walked up the small sidewalk and towards the door. The view was incredible.
I hope whoever bought this place appreciates it.
I got a few feet from the door and stopped dead in my tracks, my hand flying to my mouth.
The plaque by the back door read Alexander House, built in 2014.
“Cane?” I said, whipping around, looking at him for an explanation.
He smiled sheepishly, his hands stuck in the front pockets of his jeans. “Yeah?” he asked, bowing his head a little like he was afraid of my reaction.
“What is this?” I whispered, looking around again, afraid to believe what I thought I was seeing.
“This is Project AH, otherwise known as your happily-ever-after. I hope.” He chewed on his bottom lip, watching me intently.
“My happily-ever-after? What do you mean?”
I sat on one of the lounge chairs on the concrete slab, not trusting my legs. My heart pounded as I looked out across the city, the most amazing view I had ever seen, until I pulled my eyes back to the man standing in front of me.
That was the best view in the world.
“I built this for you.”
“Cane…” Words seemed so inadequate. “When did you do this?”
He smirked. “This has been in the works for a while now. I wanted to show you before, but everything was just a fucking wreck.” His face smoothed, his smirk turning into a small smile. “For the first time in my life, I know what it means to be happy. I know what it means to look forward to the future. I know what it feels like to love someone … to love them so much you’d literally die for them. You’d let them go across the country so they wouldn’t get hurt, even though it tore your heart apart to watch them leave.”
He sat on a chair next to me, fidgeting in a very un-Cane-like way.
“I just need to know one thing now,” he said, smiling nervously. “Will you move here with me?”
I couldn’t say anything. I was just in total shock.
“Jada, you’re killing me here,” he laughed nervously.
“Of course I will,” I breathed out, my chest heaving with excitement, the smile on my face touching my eyes. It was the happiest I had ever been.
“I have a confession.” He winced as he tilted his head.
My heart dropped to my knees and my smile slipped.
Please, God, please don’t let us go backwards again.
“What’s that?” I asked hesitantly.
“I lied to you.” He looked to the house so I couldn’t see his face.
My shoulders began to sag, my words coming out harsher than I expected. “About what?”
“I have another thing I need to know. I want you to change your address—move here with me. But I also want to know if you will change one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
Cane reached into his pocket and got down on the ground on one knee in front of me.
My heart jumped to my throat. Tears came to my swollen eyes and my hands flew to my mouth.
“I want you to change your last name. Will you marry me?” He opened a black velvet box and the most beautiful ring I had ever seen sparkled inside. Not too big and not too small—it was perfect.
“Cane!” I squealed. I felt lightheaded as my blood pressure soared, excitement taking over me. He removed the ring from the box and slipped it gently on my finger. He held my hand in his hands, as mesmerized by the sight as I was. He lifted it to his lips and kissed it before pulling me into him.
He kissed me long and hard, his hand wrapping in my hair and holding me still as he took his time telling me everything he wanted without words.
He broke the kiss and held my head with both hands.
“You were right,” I smiled.
“About what?”
“Words are overrated.” I grinned as he laughed.
“So, this means you’ll marry me?”
“Yeah, I’ll be your girl.”
“Baby, you must have been confused,” he smiled mischievously. “You were always my girl.”
“You think?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
“There was never any doubt.”
CANE